What's up with the "DONATE NOW" button?

mtfrith · Post by **mtfrith** » 16 Mar 2009, 13:15

Just wondering why the "donate" button? What's the money going to?

Post by **billofdurham** » 16 Mar 2009, 13:24

Matthew has overheads running the site - web fees etc.

To help to raise money members can donate using the "Donate now". All money received goes to the running of the site. Without donations and sponsorship from the likes of FCPGroton and IPD the site would soon founder.

If you buy from Amazon use the link at the top of the page and Matthew's Volvo Site receives a small amount from Amazon.

Bill.

Post by **matthew1** » 16 Mar 2009, 14:00

Mtfrith, thanks for asking, and thanks to Bill for the summary.

Short answer: booze and women

Just kidding.

Hosting fees: I moved the site from shared hosting to its own server in Oct. 2008. The site had long outgrown shared hosting, and the upgrade was due.

MVS is my income, it's literally my job. I support my 4-year-old son and myself with this.

The more donations, Sponsor links clicks, Amazon link clicks, etc. = me spending more time making the site work better and expanding features like the Volvo Repair Database. In addition, I'm able to spend time on things like backing up the forum database and repair database almost every night, which would come in handy in a worst case scenario of a server meltdown.

Please buy parts from our sponsors -- top of the page ads. That is the #1 way I get paid. Please tell them I sent you.

I'd love nothing more than to make all my income from this site, and spend all my time improving it. Working on MVS is more enjoyable than taking web design and development jobs, which I must do to make ends meet.

In addition to the hosting fees, I use revenue from MVS to

Buy clicks in to this site from Google AdWords. That has the effect of growing the number of members here, and that in turn has the effect of adding more Volvo knowledge to the forum and the Repair Database.
Reward software developers who write software that we use here on matthewsvolvosite.com, like phpBB and WordPress.

When you contribute via the PayPal donate button or contribute via posting a detailed repair with photos, you may choose to have your username rank become MVS Contributor. I'll email you and ask you if you'd like that. Some prefer not to be recognized in that fashion and that's fine with me.

And like Bill mentioned if you use the Amazon link (or the MVS-Amazon "store"), I get a small % of that in cash back. It's entirely free and transparent to you -- simply click the link to go to Amazon, then put products in your Amazon cart.

If none of those options to give back work for you (or in addition to them), linking to matthewsvolvosite.com from your web site or blog would be very appreciated. More than ever, the search engines rely on how many links go to a web site in their estimation of a web site's value to the internet.

Sorry for writing such a long post, but it's important everybody's comfortable knowing where their donations go. And if you're curious, I've gotten donations ranging from $1 to $100.

Thanks to all contributors, both donors and those who have documented repairs. If I've missed moving your rank up to MVS Contributor, just email or private message me.

mtfrith · Post by **mtfrith** » 16 Mar 2009, 16:36

kewl! Thanks for the detailed explanations. Happy to contribute for such an excellent forum. Mark

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 16 Mar 2009, 18:19

Don't believe a word he said, the $$ goes to the neo-nazi's.

but in true honesty- a lot of hard work goes into this site- Matt deserves some revenue besides putting it all back into MVS. Thanks Matt!

Oh, and as a footnote, sometimes Matt runs something special here where members (last year, moderators!) can win some of the proceeds- very very cool!

Craigd2599 · Post by **Craigd2599** » 17 Mar 2009, 05:28

MT...the money is also used for a special prize package when you hit your 10,000th post...but only if it coincides with your birthday.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 17 Mar 2009, 06:14

Craigd2599 wrote:MT...the money is also used for a special prize package when you hit your 10,000th post...but only if it coincides with your birthday.

haha...

Actually, in my case, the '94 850 was my prize (don't get me wrong- nothing to do with proceeds from this site)- I think I'm finding the 850 is a gift that will keep on giving (or possibly taking)..

Post by **UKJames** » 08 Apr 2009, 13:55

This is an incredibly valuable resource, where else would you be able to canvass the opinions and experience of a whole group of enthusiasts who all share a common interest. Speaking personally it has taken the heart-ache out of owning an 850, everything that I want to know is right here in a very professional format, if this costs me $30 from time to time, then I am more than happy to contribute. Well done Matt.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 08 Apr 2009, 19:49

^^^ Ditto!

Post by **matthew1** » 09 Apr 2009, 11:10

Flattery will not be tolerated here!

Ok, a little doesn't hurt. Send tequila.

Seriously though, I couldn't do it without my moderators MIJ, Bill and Lee. They do the helping; I do the info organizing. Somehow it works.